DELAWARE RIVER WATERSHED INITIATIVE ACTION PLAN WORK SESSION NOTES Draft 7/20/2000

DELAWARE RIVER WATERSHED INITIATIVE

ACTION PLAN WORK SESSION NOTES

Draft 7/20/2000

CONFIDENTIAL--DO NOT CIRCULATE

What does success look like?

1. Players and partners form some type of coalition and give us a mandate.
2. Money for communication infrastructure (i.e. computers, print media, staff, marketing)
3. Doubling the number of municipalities and small watershed groups created and or assisted.
4. The vision for the watershed is a institutionalized by the watershed players
5. Pieces in motion to build the big picture vision.
6. Other initiatives are integrated into Delaware River Initiative.

Assumptions

1. There is no tag line for the Delaware River watershed identity---"Everyone's River".
2. The competition with larger groups is a barrier to collaboration and funding.
3. We need to focus more on what we want to accomplish
4. We need to diversify our funding sources to complete pieces
5. There isn't a leader for the watershed.
6. No single issue/ matter of concern which binds the shed.
7. There is a synergy/ benefit to collaboration, which is not yet realized.
8. Re-invention is wasteful in terms of time and money.
9. We need more people to implement
10. The Conservancy has dedicated staff, expertise, GIS, planning, design and educators
11. There is a need for communication, capacity building, coordination, and coalition building around the watershed.
12. We need to be sure about the need for a watershed initiative, and what the need is.
13. Success hasn't bee at a watershed scale.
14. No one "owns" the Delaware.  Groups have claimed their own watershed.
15. NPS/Feds are major players with a low-key approach.
16. Land and resource issues are on the increase in the States.
17. Each state has a different agenda.
18. DRBC is viewed as a leader, but is a federal agency and a "regulator".
19. There is no succinct agreement for watershed collaboration.

What does future success (1-3 years) look like?

1. A significant portion of watershed residents identifies with the river through a tag line.  Use of products, information, media siting, activities (i.e. River Day); development of a tag line (i.e. Everybody's River); Delaware River packet (i.e. Care Package for the Delaware).
2. There is an increase in the amount of money for every cooperator (i.e. a bigger pie) through involvement with joint projects; meetings with key players; increased use of open approaches; strategies to make the pie bigger.
3. Clearly identified small, highly visible, projects which get results within 1-3 years including: a tag-line; demonstration projects; Newsletter/ Channels; Sojourn; Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington; "Johnny Appleseed" of the Delaware; Floating Classroom
4. Document 100 success stories at the local level by publishing a report; give awards; partner with PI.
5. Secure $500,000 in operating funds from 5 sources by integrating the funding search with other funding activities.
6. Set deadlines and stick to them.
7. Do something at the federal level--develop a strategy; legislative approach; policy.
8. Consider collaborating with the Mid-Atlantic federal Partners for the Environment.
9. Identify market needs (i.e. requirements, watershed widgets), brainstorm and listen.
10. Create a Leadership Delaware River Watershed effort (i.e. use the Potomac proposal).
11. Search for a leader within the Delaware (i.e. a spokesperson who lives in the watershed who has creditability, an interest in the watershed, passion, personality, is a recognized authority; can be a spokesperson, a grand man or woman of the watershed.  Consider the Channel 10 Weatherperson, a pop star, fishing expert, writer.  Consider several spokespeople.
12. Search for a political leader.  Consider Castle, Borski, Kanjorsky, Weldon, Hinchey, others
13. Hold a Congressional Caucus meeting
14. Review the League of Women/ Conservation Voters ratings 
15. Clarify that clean water binds the watershed.  Consider the benefit of clean water to livable places; water supply--the water, the land, the life.
16. Make the economic case for Delaware River conservation.  Use the Ohio River, Economics of Greenways, American Rivers budget, as examples, sources of info. Also hire Joe and track his spending.  Find other case studies on economic benefits.
17. Share staff for common small watershed needs, such as grants, technical assistance, GIS info
18. Market effort as a fee for service
19. Consider a joint effort with EPA, NPS, and DCR to support a Delaware River Watershed Initiative Circuit Rider.
20. Create a virtual or real Watershed Alliance Office.
21. Increase the number of people to implement the Initiative include student interns; staff from other projects.  Also, describe the product line and the delivery of service process--how do we handle requests/ help people and organizations?
22. Grow dedicated and cutting-edge staff and services
23. Articulate the vision of the Initiative for the internal strategy (1-2 pages)
24. Convene a watershed meeting with large private groups, key in on important topics--such as Monroe County, and possible include a useful outside speaker.

Next Steps:

1. Pull together notes and circulate to the group for comments and more detail (Eugster)
2. Develop a proposal for the Future of the Delaware River Watershed Initiative (David)
3. Add measurable results to the Action Plan (All)
4. Prepare the Vision of the Initiative (David)
5. Package pieces together and get them funded (Heritage Conservancy staff)
6. Pull together key players around an issue

1. Monroe County (Allen Sachse)
2. Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington (Joe DiBello)
3. Estuary area (Russ Johnson and Cliff David)

Schedule:

July 25 Russ Johnson and Glenn Eugster meet in 

Washington, DC 3:30-7:00 p.m.

August 1 Cliff, Russ, Laura, Diane, Joe and Glenn meet at Heritage Conservancy 10;00 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. to prepare "Action Plan"